Air-purifying apparatus.



No. 655,285. Patented Aug. 7, 19Go. R. H. THOMAS.

AIB PUBIFYING APPARATUS.

(Application led Apr. B0, 1900.) (No Nudel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 655,285. Patented Aug. 7, |900. R. li. 'll-HIMAS.`

AIB PUBIFYINE APPARATUS.

(Application led Apr. 20, 1900.) (No Rodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

3 .wf Q

W asses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD l'l. THOMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR-PURIFYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming pm of Letters Patent No. 655,285, dated August 7, 1900.

Application le April 20, 1900.

To all whom it imy concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United states, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Air# Purifying Apparatus, of which, the following is a specification.

` This invention relates to apparatus for removing dirt from and purifying air; and it has for its object to provide a construction in which the air may be passed through a sheet or fine spray of water in either a cold or warm condition and subsequently treated to remove che excess of moisture therefrom previous to its introduction into a house or building for consumption.

Further objects and advantages of the inventi'on will be evident from the following specification.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the apparatus and showing its in stallation Ain the Ventilating -opening of a building. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1, taken just below the top of the casing and looking I downwardly. Fig.- 3 is anenlarged detail showing la number of the baille-plates and illustrating their mutual arrangement. Fi g. 4 is a detail perspective viewof one of the baffle-plates.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention is contained in a' preferably-rectangular casing 5, which is disposed in a Ventilating-opening or airintake of a buildiug 6, which is to b`e ventilated, the inlet or outer end of the casing 5 being preferably reduced in height and provided with a vertical series .of 'heating-pipes 7, through themedium of which the air which passes into the ventilator may be heated when so desired, these pipes being supplied with steam or hot air from any suitable source and in the usual manner.

Upon the inner face of the upper side or top of the casing 5 is secured a pipe 10, having suitable connection with a. water-supply, andl this pipe is provided with a' plurality of downwardly directed spraying nozzles 11,

through the medium of which the water from Serial No. 13,654. (No model.)

pipe 10 may be thrown downwardly in a spray to forma sheet or veil of water. A similar pipe 13 is disposed upon the bottomv of the casing and has a plurality of upwardly-disposed nozzles 14, which direct the water from the pipe in an upward direction, the pipe 18 lying in advance' of the pipe 1D, whereby the two sheets or 'veils of water will notI interfere -one with the other, but the current from each will pass free by the other. In the rear of pipes 10 and 13 is stretched a screen 15, of

line mesh, which prevents the passage of water beyond it, excepting such as is in a iinelydivided state.

The air in passing through the casing 5 first v passes through one sheet or veil of water and then the other, and because of the currents of the two veils being in opposite directions the air is thoroughly mingled with the water and all solid matter therein is washed out, the waste water being drawn oi through a drain 16,as shown. After the water has passed through the screen in conjunction wit-h the air it is of course necessary that the excess of moisture be removed, 'and for this purpose 'a series of baille-plates. is provided, which plates are disposed vertically in the rear of the screen and act to arrest the water and direct it downwardly to the bottom of the cas ing. These plates, as illustrated, consist each of a sheet 17, of suitablenietal, each sheet being dat and having one edgebentupon itself to lie in a vertical plane and at anacute angle to the plate proper, these bent portions of the plate extending forwardly in the direction of the screen 15, while the bodies of the plates lie at au angle to the plane of the screen. The plates are4 disposed in rows transversely ofthe casing 5, the plates of each row lying mutually parallel and the succeeding rows of plates lying alternately in different directions, so that the ,air in passing through the bale will strike the outer faces of the first row of plates and will slide transversely thereof and into the angles of the plates and their forwardly-turned edges and after passing over these forwardly-turned edges will strike the next row of plates and will -pass similarly over them, this action of the air being continued throughout the enti-re series of rows of plates. The resultis that when the of -plates it air has passed from the last row that amount of moisture which is the various parts of the structure and that any suitable proportions may be used without-departing from .the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is- 1. An air purifier comprising a casing adapted for the a screen disposed transversely of the casing, water-snpply pipes disposed in the casing at opposite sides thereof and having dischargenozzles disposed to discharge in opposite direcions and in parallel planes, and baieplates in the rear of the screen.

2. An air purifier comprising a casing adapted for the passage of air therethrough, a screen disposed transversely of the casing,

the rear of the screen, passage of air therethrough,-

water-supply pipes disposed in thecasing at opposite sides thereof and indierent'planes transversely of the casing in advance of the screen, nozzles for each pipe disposed to discharge in opposite directions transversely of the casing and in dierent planes, and bailleplates in the rear of the screen, each plate having an edge bent uponl itself to form-a gutter, and the plates being disposed with the gutters thereof vertical.

3. An air-purier comprising a casing, a screen in the casing, water-supply pipes having nozzles disposed to discharge transversely of the casing in advance of the screen, and a plurality of rows of vertical baille-plates in the rows of plates being turned alternately and each plate having its rear edge bent forwardly in the direction of the screen. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto af'xed my signaturein the presence of two Witnesses.

- RICHARD H. THOMAS. lVitnesses:

HENRY F. SMITH, CHAs. KILENpER.

in opposite directions Y 

